Kano state governor, Abduallahi Umar Ganduje, has threatened that any medicine seller at the Sabongari market, who failed to relocate to newly commissioned Coordinated Wholesale Centre(CWC) located at the Economic City Centre , after two weeks will be arrested and prosecuted for disobeying the order.
Gov.Ganduje who made the disclosure at the weekend during the commissioning of the project,said that ,the CWC would serve as a better place not only for drug sellers but would also curb selling of substandard and fake drug that are inimical to human health
According to him, with the facility in place, the era of selling counterfeit and expired drugs in Kano has come to an end.
He said the project became a reality, as a result of the political will demonstrated by his administration, adding that the input of security agencies and other stakeholders also helped towards achieving the feat.
He said that ” I am so happy that the Federal Government is interested in this project. With this regulatory market, the sale of counteefeit and expired drugs is over in Kano.
Ganduje hinted that ” In the market, we have offices for all the regulatory agencies. This market is the only legal place where you can sell wholesale drugs in Kano state. All other locations will be closed down. If you are found wanting, you will face the wrath of the law.”
Earlier,the Registrar of Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN)Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, has given a two weeks deadline to medicine sellers in Sabongari market in Kano,to relocate to already earmarked Coordinated Wholesale Centre( CWC)
Sabongari market is a popular market ,in the state capital, where thousands of drug sellers for age long have been selling their products and had established themselves where people from the state and neighbouring countries transact business with them.
It will be recalled that several time when state government planned to eject or move them out of Sabongari ,it aways resulted into tension and crisis
While addressing a press conference held at City Centre Hotel. Kano, Mr.Ahmed,said that whoever failed to relocate,after the stipulated period given would have himself or herself to be blame.
“With the commissioning of the CWC in Kano today, the sale of medicine in Sabongari market and clustered plazas across Kano state will no longer be tolerated “
Therefore all concerned medicine dealers are advised to move to the CWC in their own interest, adding that whoever involved in this act the law would deal with him or her
her address, the Director-General of National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Christiana Mojisola Adeyeye, described the project as a facility built upon the pillars of protecting the health of Nigerians.
According to her, “we are here today to protect our health. Because of this edifice, we will have more confidence in the drugs we take. NAFDAC ensures that the drugs we buy is of good quality.
“NAFDAC, through this facility will inspect the drugs that people buy. Today, Kano has become a model that other states should follow.”
